Server Kristen Villa holds a Reese’s Peanut Butter chocolate cheesecake during a training session day for invited guests at the new Cheesecake Factory in Temecula on Thursday, November 15, 2018. The restaurant grand opening is Tuesday, Nov. 20 in Promenade Temecula. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

The Cheesecake Factory in marshaling its forces for opening of its newest restaurant next week in Temecula, which is special for a couple for reasons.

Server Vicki Serna brings out orders to Delia Orellana, of Sun City, and granddaughter, Alivia Orellana, 3, during a training session day for invited guests at the new Cheesecake Factory in Temecula on Thursday, November 15, 2018. The restaurant grand opening is Tuesday, Nov. 20 in Promenade Temecula. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Bartender Hannah Listoe mixes a mojito during a training session day for invited guests at the new Cheesecake Factory in Temecula on Thursday, November 15, 2018. The restaurant grand opening is Tuesday, Nov. 20 in Promenade Temecula. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

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Server Kristen Villa holds a Reese’s Peanut Butter chocolate cheesecake during a training session day for invited guests at the new Cheesecake Factory in Temecula on Thursday, November 15, 2018. The restaurant grand opening is Tuesday, Nov. 20 in Promenade Temecula. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Avocado toast is made with grilled artisan bread and topped with fresh avocado, marinated tomato, watercress, radish and red onion served during a training session day for invited guests at the new Cheesecake Factory in Temecula on Thursday, November 15, 2018. The restaurant grand opening is Tuesday, Nov. 20 in Promenade Temecula. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

Chefs are busy cooking orders during a training session day for invited guests at the new Cheesecake Factory in Temecula on Thursday, November 15, 2018. The restaurant grand opening is Tuesday, Nov. 20 in Promenade Temecula. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)

It will be The Cheesecake Factory’s 200th restaurant, and its staff will be given commemorative pins, said Alethea Rowe, spokesman for the restaurant chain. More importantly, southwest Riverside County has been eagerly awaiting the opening for months.

When the City of Temecula announced the lease on Facebook last spring, it became “the most liked post in the city’s history,” according to Rowe. To date, the April post has garnered more than 1,200 likes, 845 comments and 950 shares.

The Cheesecake Factory occupies a 9,145-square foot space on the west side of Promenade Temecula on Winchester Road. It has an outdoor entrance to an enclosed mall that is just a portion of the sprawling regional shopping center. Inside the mall, it faces Macy’s women’s location.

On Thursday, workers were putting finishing touches on the enclosed patio while a small army of food servers in white long-sleeved shirts and black slacks were getting last-minute instructions from managers.

The restaurant was serving meals to family and friends of the staff as well as local business leaders, but is not yet open for business, as receptionists politely told walk-ups.

It opens to the public at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 20.

The restaurant has a staff of 329, said manager Chris Roush, plus 50 to 60 trainers who came in from all over the country to help with the launch.

All hands will be on deck for Tuesday’s opening, he said. The restaurant will be closed on Thanksgiving but is expecting big crowds through the end of the holiday weekend.

It has a long menu that ranges from small plates and lunch sandwiches to pizza and steak.

The restaurant’s opening straddles holidays. It will be serving pumpkin cheesecake and pumpkin pecan cheesecake at least through the opening, but those desserts are coming off the menu, and peppermint bark cheesecake will be available beginning on Friday, Nov. 23, according to Rowe.

The Cheesecake Factory’s offices are in Calabasas on the edge of an evacuation area for the Woolsey Fire, forcing staff to work from home for a few days, Rowe said. She said none suffered loss.

Fielding Buck has been a business reporter since 2014 with a focus on logistics, supply chain and GIS. Prior experience includes extensive entertainment reporting. He loves photography and dogs and lives in San Bernardino County.